Automatic shut off dispensing nozzle



April 5, 1960 cs. w. WESCHE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF DISPENSING uo'zzu:

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1957 INVENTOR fieazye fifllscfie ZZM gm/wgrm ATTORNEYS April 5, 1960 e. w. WESCHE 2,931,400

AUTOMATIC SHUT QFF DISPENSING NOZZLE Filed Oct. 18, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR dMJQMMM ATTORNEYS 77 6001 "(Wade I April 1960 G. w. WESCHE 2,931,400

AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF DISPENSING NQZZLE Filed Oct. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR wwfwm ATTORNEYS 2,931,400 AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF DISPENSING NOZZLE George W. Wesche, Wellsville, NY. Application October 18, 1957, Serial No. 691,631 7 Claims. (Cl. 141-209) This invention relates generally to automatic shut off liquid dispensing nozzles embracing mechanism to close the nozzle valve when the container approaches a filled state. More particularly the invention is directed to a hold open latch for such nozzles which is constmcted to enable adjustment to insure that the nozzle valve is held open to a sufiicicnt extent to permit the requisite rate of liquid flow for the automatic shut off mechanism to properly operate when the container becomes filled.

in gasoline filling stations extensive use is now made of liquid dispensing nozzles having a filling spout insertable into the filling neck of the vehicle gasoline tank and wherein automatic shut ofi of the nozzle valve occurs when the gasoline level in the tank immerses the filling spout end. This type of nozzle is conventionally provided with a nozzle valve spring biased to closed position and a valve operating lever which is grasped by the filling station attendant and moved to an open valve position to admit liquid from the gasoline pump to how through the filling spout. The automatic shut off mechanism is connected to the lever and operates to release it from such open valve position when the container being filled becomes full or a blow back in the filling neck of the container occurs.

In conjunction with the type of automatic filling nozzle as generally described hereinabove, it has been proposed to provide a latching device associated with the filling nozzle and engageable with the valve operating lever to hold such lever in an open valve position during the filling operation. By the use of such a latching device, the filling station attendant may set the nozzle valve in an open position and leave it while he attends to other duties about the car, such as cleaning the windshield, inspecting the engine oil level, inflating the tires, etc. The advantages gained by being able to latch open the filling nozzle valve and relying on the automatic shut oif feature of the valve to terminate the filling operation automatically in response to a full tank or in the event of gasoline blow back in the tank filling neck, are highly desirable. Such feature permits automatic filling nozzles to have a real area of utility and permit the saving of time by freeing the attendant to perform the usual courtesy services on the vehicle while the gasoline tank is being filled. Under such circumstances, a single attendant may service a substantially larger number of vehicles in any given time period and the time delay to the vehicle owner is substautially reduced.

In presently available automatic filling nozzles, the power for carrying out the automatic shut off function is supplied by a vacuum developed by liquid flow through a venturi formed adjacent to the nozzle valve seat. The vacuum is applied to pressure responsive means in the automatic shut ofi mechanism. During filling, such vacuum is relieved through a vent adiacent the end of the filling spout. When the spout end becomes immersed in liquid, this vent is closed and the vacuum builds up to effect movement of the pressure responsive means.

" With this structure, the magnitude of the vacuum opcrating force is dependent on there being sufiicient liquid flow past the valve and through the venturi to create the requisite vacuum force for operation of the automatic shut ofi mechanism. Thus, it is readily acknowledgedby the manufacturers of this type of automatic filling nozzle that a minimum flow of liquid is necessary to insure automatic shut ofi operation. Below this minimum flow rate inadequate vacuum is produced to operate the shut off mechanism and even when the filling spout becomes immersed in the liquid in the tank, the nozzle valve will not be closed. Obviously this results in overfiowing of the liquid which, when gasoline is involved, creates a serious safety hazard. In any event, overflow of liquid results in wastage and undesirable soiling of the vehicle finish.

Where the gasoline station attendant is present, manually holding the nozzle in its open position, he can immediately release the valve lever upon the failure of the automatic shut off mechanism to function. However, if the automatic feature is not reliable in its operation, requiring that the attendant give his continued attention to manually stopping the flow when the tank becomes full, the extra initial cost and expense of maintenance of an automatic shut off nozzle is obviously unjustified.

Where latch devices to hold the valve lever in a position to keep the valve open are employed, the failure of the automatic shut off feature to function results in substantial wastage of gasoline by the valve remaining open even after the tank becomes full or a gasoline blow back has occurred. The unreliability of presently available automatic shut off filling nozzles used in conjunction with hold open latch devices has very logically contributed to the refusal of many states to make the use of such hold open latches legally permissible. From a safety standpoint, the danger of spilling quantities of gasoline where a latched open automatic shut off nozzle fails to operate creates a fire hazard.

The basic problem in the operational failures of automatic shut off filling nozzles, as mentioned hereinabove, stems from a failure of such nozzles to be operated with the required minimum liquid flow necessary to operate the shut off mechanism. As such nozzles are used, wear invariably develops in the various moveable parts, such as the automatic shut oif mechanism, valve operating lever, etc. With the latch devices as proposed in the prior art, definite fixed hold open positions are provided. Whereas a newly manufactured automatic shut off nozzle may be fully effective for operation with a latch device when the valve operating lever is engaged with the outermost or lowest fiow rate position provided on the latch device, the same nozzle, after use, will become worn to the point that this same latch device position will not hold the valve open sufficiently to permit the requisite liquid flow. Thereafter, when the valve operating lever is latched in this lowest flow rate position, the automatic shut ofi feature will not operate due to inadequate liquid flow through the nozzle.

The continued use of this worn automatic filling nozzle is indeed hazardous as long as the fixed position latching device is used therewith. Either the user of the nozzle will have to experience a failure of the automatic shut of? feature with consequent overflow and sp llage of liquid, or each user will have to be advised that the slow flow rate position on the latching device on the particular nozzle is useless since. requisite liquid fiow in such position will not occur. However, the continued presence of this fixed slow flow rate position on the nozzle is an open invitation to its future use resulting in failure of the automatic shut ofi mechanism to operate.

Having in mind the hereinabove discussed problems, it is the primary object of the instant invention to provide an automatic shut ofi dispensing nozzle embodying It is a further object of this invention to provide a hold I open latch for an automatic shut olf nozzle wherein the projection for holding the valve operating lever is retained against assuming a position where undesired low flow rate would result in causing the automatic shut off mechanism of the nozzle to be inoperative.

It is also an objectof this invention to provide a hold open latch in an automatic shut off nozzle, embodying adjustable projection elements to insure that the slowest flow rate latch position will permit adequate liquid flow for the shut off mechanism to operate.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in conjunction with an automatic shut off nozzle, a readily attachable and detachable hold open latch which may be snapped onto existing automatic filling nozzles and removed as desired for repair or replacement of the nozzle or latch.

The above and other more specific objects and features of the invention will be more apparent by reference to the description given hereinafter in conjunction with the specific embodiments of the invention shown on the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an automatic shut off filling nozzle embodying the instant invention with parts thereof shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the nozzle showing the holding latch for the valve operating lever in its operating position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofa portion of the nozzle showing details of the latch in operative position.

Fig. 4is a sectional view taken on line 4.',4 of Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of holding latch for the valve operating lever.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the nozzle showing details of latch of Fig. 6 inoperative position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detailed view partially in section of the latch of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is an exploded view showing the parts of the latch of'Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a partial side elevational view of the nozzle showing a latch similar to Figs. I through 5 with a modified mounting means therefor, and

Fig. 12 is an elevational View of the latch of Fig. 11.

Referring to Fig. 1, the structure of the instant invention is shown embodied in an automatic shutoff liquid dispensing nozzle 10 having a body 11 provided with an inlet connection 12. A coupling 13 is threaded into connection 12 and a conventional flexible hose-14 connected to extend to the liquid supplying pump (not shown). Body 11 of the nozzle 10 has an outwardly extending filling spent 15 adapted to be inserted into filling neck of the container to be filled, such as a vehicle gasoline tank.

The operating stem 19 of a nozzle valve 20 mounted within body 11 extends outwardly of the body. The valve 20 is biased to a normally closed position. A valve operating lever 21 is provided adjacent the outer end of stem 19 to be manually actuated to open the valve. Lever'21 is enclosed within the conventional hand guard 22 which is slotted at 23 to receive and guide the rear free end .of lever 21 in its path of movement to open the valve.

The opposite end of lever 21 is pivoted at 25 to a member 26 which forms a part of an automatic shut off mechanism 27 for the nozzle. This mechanism releases member 26 to move to thedotted line position in Fig. l

in response to immersion of the outer end of the filling spout 15 in liquid dispensed into the.cont ainer being filled. The details of mechanism 27 within the body 11 filling neck occurs,

' valve operating lever and also for details of a suitable flow controlling valve, reference may be had to Duerr Patent No. 2,582,195 issued January 8, 1952.

Brief reference to the functioning of an automatic shut off nozzle as generally illustrated'on-the drawings may be pertinent. In undertaking to fill a container, the member 26 is held by mechanism 27 in the position shown on Fig. 1 and the handle 21 manually moved toward body 11 to open valve 20 against the pressure of the spring (not shown) biasing it toward closed position. As long as lever 21 is held in this position, liquid will flow through the nozzle and out of the filling spout 15 into the container. When the end of the filling spout is immersed in liquid either by reason of the occurrence of a full container or by blow back. of the liquid in the container filling neck, the mechanism 27 releases member 26 to move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. In this position, even though the lever 21 is manually retained in a position closely adjacent bodyll, the stem 19 will move outwardly as permitted by the new position of the lever 21 and thereby the valve 20 will close to cut off further liquid flow through the nozzle.

A latch 30 is pivotally mounted in the embodiment of Fig. 1 on the rear end of body 11 adjacent the path of movement of the free end of lever 21 in opening the nozzle valve.

Latch 30 includes a support member in the form of a rod 31 which in the embodiment illustrated is cylindrical, although it will be recognized that it may have other cross sectional configurations if desired. An element 32 having a sleeve portion 33 slidable along rod 31 is pro.- vided with a projection 34 extending'laterally from such sleeve portion. The projection 34 on element 32 is frictionally engaged with the free end of lever 21 as shown in Fig. 3 to hold the lever in an open valve positiorn A bracket 35 having parallel apertured legs 36 is mounted by means of a pin 37 on the nozzle body 11. A suitable cotterpin 38 is provided to hold pin 37 in place and retain bracket 35 on the nozzle body. Bracket 35 is further provided with bifurcations 46 between which there is pivotally mounted a bearing 41 (see Fig. 4) carried at one end of rod 31. A pivot pin 42 extends through the bifurcations 40 and bearing 41 to pivotally unconnect such parts. Such pin is held in place by a suitable cotter pin 43.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, bracket 35 is provided with a spring retainer 45. A coil spring 46 is engaged with such retainer and extends across bearing 41 and through rod 31 with the opposite end thereof retained by a plug 47 engaged with the outer end of rod 31. Spring 46 thereby tends to pivot the latch 30 upwardly and out; wardly to normally assume the position as shown in Fig. l.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the latch 30 in use is pivoted to move the projection 34 into frictionalengagement with the outer free end of valve operating lever 21. Thus latch 30 holds the lever in a position where the nozzle valve 20 is open, thereby obviating the necessity for the user to manually hold the lever 21 in open valve position during the filling operation. When the container to be filled approaches a filled state or blow back in thecontainer the mechanism 27 releases themem: ber 26 and the end of the lever 21 held thereby, resulting in the nozzle valve closing. On the occurrence of' this event, the sudden nozzle valve will occur. It will be appreciated that the spring biasing the nozzle valve toward closed position also tends to force the outer free end of lever 21 away from nozzle body 11. This force is applied to projection 34 resulting in the sleeve portion 33 of element 32 tending to turn on rod 31. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper-outer end 48 of sleeve portion 33 and the lowerinner end 49 of sleeve portion 33 tend to bite into the exterior surface of rod 31. This biting frictional engagement of opposite ends of sleeve portion 33 with rod 31 insures that the element 32 will be retained at the selected position relative to rod 31 when it is performing its holding function with respect to lever 21.

It it is desired to open the nozzle valve further, lever 21 is moved closer to body 11 and element 32 slid upwardly along rod 31 to follow the free end of lever 21. When lever 21 again is released to be urged downwardly by the nozzle valve spring, the force on projection 34 causes sleeve portion 33 to again bitingly engage at its upper-outer end 48 and inner-lower end 49 with rod 31 to retain element 32 in its newly adjusted position.

A series of threaded apertures are provided at longitudinally spaced positions along rod 31. An abutment in a form of screw 51 is threaded into one of the apertures 50. Screw 51 thereby provides a limit stop to determine the maximum outward position of movement of element 32. along rod 33. The screw 51 may he engaged with any one of the apertures 5i] to alter the outermost limit of element 32.

in accordance with objectives of the instant invention as describer hereinahove, the abutment provided by screw 51 may, in a relatively new or rebuilt nozzle, be located at the outermost aperture 50 as illustrated. in such a nozzle, even with element 32 engaged with lever 21 while the element is resting against screw 51, the lever 23. will be held in a position such that the nozzle valve will permit suficient liquid to flow so that the automatic mechanism 27 will be operable.

In a used filling nozzle where the parts have undergone substantial wear, the abutment formed by screw 51 may necessarily have to be at one of the upper apertures 50 so that when the nozzle is in use and when the element 32 is at its outermost position resting against the abutment the lever 21 will still be held to open the nozzle valve an adequate amount so that liquid flow therethrough will be sumcient to operate mechanism 27.

Figs. 6 through illustrate a modified embodiment for the latch employed in holding the valve operating lever on the filling nozzle at an open valve position. T he corresponding parts of the nozzle on these figures have been given the same reference numbers as used in connection with the embodiments of Figs. 1 through 5 hereinabove described.

In Figs. 6 through it) a latch 61' is provided having a support member 61 with a pivotal mounting at one end thereof formed by apertured legs 62 cooperating with a pivot pin 63 on the body 11. Pin 63 is held in place by a suitable cotterpin 64. A spring 65 engages the body 11 and has the ends 66 thereof cooperating with member 61 to urge the latch 60 to the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 10, the member 61 of latch 60 carries a longitudinally extending rib 70 providing a guide surface along which a pair of elements 71 and 72 are slidably adjustable and to which such elements are connected. Rib 70 may be provided with a projection 73 to form a fixed uppermost holding position for valve operating lever 21. An aperture 74 is provided in rib 70 and slots 75 and 76 provided in the elements 71 and 72 respectively. Element 71 is provided with a projection 77 and element 72 is provided with a projection 78.

A threaded fastener, in a form of bolt 79 and cooperating nut 79, extends through aperture 74 in rib 70 and through the slots 75 and 76 in the elements 71 and 72. It will thus be seen that while the threaded fastener is is Q loosely engaged with elements 71 and 72, these elements may be adjusted along the guide surface provided by rib 70 to position the respective projections 77 and 78 as desired relative to the support member. Once the desired adjusted position of the respective positions has been achieved, nut 79' is tightened onto bolt 79 to lock the elements 71 and 72 in a fixed position on support member 61.

As in the case of the previously described embodiment, it will be understood that on a new or rebuilt filling nozzle the lowermost projection on the latch, as provided by projection 77 on element 71, may be disposed as its outermost position relative to the pivotal mounting of latch 60. On the other hand, in a worn nozzle, where the extent of opening of the nozzle valve, when the lever 21 is retained by this outermost projection 77, would not permit the required liquid flow rate to occur so that the automatic shut olf mechanism will operate, the nut 79 will be loosened and element 71 adjusted to relocate its projection 77. Such relocation will be effected so that when the lever 21 is engaged with projection 77 in its relocated position, the nozzle valve will be held sufficiently open so that adequate liquid flow for operation of the shut off mechanism will take place.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention. The latch 80 shown in this embodiment possesses characteristics similar to the embodiment hereinabove described in connection with Figs. 1 through 5. In Figs. 11 and 12, the latch includes a support member in the form of a rod 81 having an element 82 provided with a sleeve portion 83 slidably engaging said rod. Element 82 further is provided with a projection 84 which frictionally engages with the valve operating lever 21 to hold the nozzle valve open. Rod 81 is pivotally connected to a bracket 85 by means of a pivot pin 86 engaging bifurcations 87 on said bracket. A cotterpin 88 retains pin 86 in place. 7

A spring 89 has one end retained by a spring retainer 90 on bracket 85 and the other end held by a plug 91 engaged with rod 81. This spring serves to retract the latch 80 to the dotted line position as shown in Fig. ll. An abutment in a form of a screw 92 is provided on rod 81 with a series of threaded apertures 93 (see Fig. 12) being provided along rod 81 to accommodate selective positioning of screw 92 as desired. p

The bracket 85 has secured thereto by welding 95 a semi-circular clip 96. This clip is preferably constructed of a material having a degree of resiliency such that the clip may be snapped into frictional engagement with the tubular hose coupling 13 in the manner as shown on Fig. 11. By this mode of attachment, the clip may be readily applied to existing filling nozzles and likewise may be simply detached for repair or replacement of the nozzle or latch as may be necessary after extended use.

The operation of the latch 80 is identical to the functioning of the latch described in connection with Figs. 1 through 5 and repetition of the operation and functioning would appear unnecessary.

I claim:

1. In a liquid dispensing nozzle for insertion into a container to be filled having a manual operating lever engaging a valve biased toward closed position to control the flow of liquid through said nozzle and automatic means connected to release said lever to close said valve in response to liquid within the container immersing the outlet end of said nozzle, a latch having pivotal mounting means at one end thereof to mount said latch adjacent the path of movement of the lever in opening the valve, spring means to normally bias said latch away from said path of movement, said latch having a member and an element mounted thereon, said element providing a projection engageable with the lever to hold the valve in an open position, said element being slidably movable along said member relative to said pivotal mounting to selectively alter the position of said projection and thereby Z vary the extent of opening of the valve as effected by the holding of the operating lever by said projection, and an abutm'ent on said member selectively positionable at points spaced different distances from said pivotal mounting and cooperating with said element to retain'saidele- 'meutat a predetermined position on said member against displacement away from said pivotal mounting when said projection is engaged with the lever, said element being movable relative to said pivotal mounting to engage said abutment in limiting outward movement of said element.

2. In a liquid dispensing nozzle including a body having a flow controlling valve therein biased toward closed position and an outwardly extending filling spout insertable into the container to be filled, an operating lever for said valve manually movable from a position wherein said valve is closed to an open valve position, and automatic means connected to said lever and operable in response to liquid Within the container immersing the outlet end of said filling spout to release said lever from said open valve position, a latch having pivotal mounting means atone end thereof to mount said latch on the body adjacent the path of movement of the lever in opening "the valve, said latch including a rod-like support member extending generally perpendicular to the axis of said pivotal mounting means and an element slideably mounted thereon to be movable toward and away from said pivotal mounting means, said pivotal mounting mean including a' bracket pivotally connected to said support member and having means for detachably mount ing said bracket to said body, said element providing a projection engageable with the lever to hold it in the open valve position, and connecting means between said element and said support member including a sleeve portion on said element encircling said rod-like support member to permit selective adjustment of said element along said support member to alter as desired the. extent of valve opening effected by said latch in holding the lever in the open valve position; said connecting means further including means to retain said element on said member and prevent displacement of said projection outwardly from a predetermined position relative to said pivotal mounting. 3. In a liquid dispensing nozzle, a latch as recited in claim 2 wherein said retaining means comprises an abutment selectively positionable at different points along the length of said rod-like support member to be engaged by said sleeve portion in limiting outward movement of said element relative to said rod-like supoprt member.

4. In a liquid dispensing nozzle,,a latch as recited in claim 3 wherein said bracket includes bifurcations providing therebetween a pivot support for said rod, and'said rod is provided at one end thereof with bearing means pivotally connecting said rod to said bifurcations.

5. In a liquid dispensing nozzle, a latch as recited in claim 4 wherein said mounting means for said bracket includes a semi-circular clip frictionally engageable with the inlet hose connection to the body of said nozzle.

6. In a liquid dispensing nozzle, a latch as recited in claim 4 wherein said mountind means for said bracket includes parallel apertured legs cooperable with a pin on said nozzle. a

7. In a liquid dispensing nozzle including a body having a flow controlling valve therein biased toward closed position and an outwardly extending filling spout insertable into the container to be filled, an operating lever for said valve manually movable from a position wherein said valve is closed to an open valve position, and automatic means connected to said lever and operable in response to liquid within the container immersing the outlet end of said filling spout to release said lever from said open valve position, a latch having pivotal mounting means at one end thereof to mount said latch on the body adjacent the path of. movement of the lever in opening the valve, spring means to normally bias said latch away from said path of movement, said latch including a support member extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from the axis of said pivotal mounting and an element having a sleeve portion slideably engaging said member, said element providing a'Projection extending laterally from said sleeve portionto engage with the lever to hold it in the open valve position, said sleeve portion and said member cooperating during holding of the lever by the projection on said element to retain said element at the preselected position of said element relative to said member, and an abutment selectively positionable at different points along the length of said member to be engaged by said element in limiting outward movement of said element relative to said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,706,942 Smith Mar. 26, 1929 2,106,596 Duff Jan. 25, 1938 2,528,747 Gravelle Nov. 7, 1950 Lehr Mar. 20, 1951 

